Monograph 'Yoo Youngkuk: Quintessence' Reveals Korean Abstract Painter's Landscape Vision

The book 'Yoo Youngkuk: Quintessence' showcases the work of Yoo Youngkuk (1916–2002), a pioneering figure in Korean abstract art. This volume, featuring 213 color plates, is edited by Rosa Maria Falvo Rizzoli and retails for $135. It delves into the concept of quintessence, representing the essential spirit of objects. Yoo, originally from Uljin, South Korea, studied in Tokyo, where he embraced geometric abstraction before returning in 1943. Following Korea's liberation in 1945, he briefly taught at Seoul National University and later operated a soju distillery during the Korean War. Afterward, he transitioned to organic shapes influenced by landscapes, creating a distinctive style characterized by triangles and circles. Critical essays by Gabriel Ritter, Inhye Kim, and Bartomeu Marí provide context for his artistic evolution amid cultural changes.